QNAP TS-1673AU-RP-16G-US 16-Bay 3U NAS review

The QNAP TS-1673AU-RP-16G-US is a 16-bay, 3U rack NAS built around an AMD Ryzen Embedded V1500B and a 16 GB memory profile. QNAP’s current U.S. selector identifies the underlying configuration as TS-1673AU-RP-16G, and its Official Store page uses the exact U.S. SKU suffix. I treat these as one hardware profile, not separate machines or a claim that a particular seller currently has stock. This is a document-based assessment, not a hands-on review; I have not installed, owned or tested the unit. Start with QNAP’s U.S. TS-1673AU-RP product page and the English TS-x73AU User Guide.

Sixteen native SATA positions, with media caveats

The exact current selector lists sixteen native 3.5-inch SATA positions and says the NAS ships without HDDs. It names 3.5-inch SATA hard drives and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs installed in the trays. The 2020 guide also says 2.5-inch SATA hard drives can be installed in 3.5-inch trays, but that older line is absent from the current selector. A model-specific QNAP compatibility response captured on 5 November 2026 now exposes separate 3.5-inch HDD and SSD tables with drive model, capacity, interface and firmware fields. Check the complete planned drive SKU and firmware against QNAP’s current list instead of treating the bay count as blanket approval. The captured response has no separate 2.5-inch HDD category; that does not settle whether the older guide’s 2.5-inch HDD wording remains valid for this exact unit. Confirm with QNAP before building around that media.

QNAP lists both QTS with EXT4 and QuTS hero with ZFS as software alternatives for this model. The exact software profiles list RAID 1 among their supported layouts. Under either OS, a two-drive mirror is something the owner selects and creates from compatible drives; it is not a prebuilt array or a reason to skip an independent backup. QNAP’s operating-system references describe RAID 1 as a two-drive arrangement that can continue after one member fails, while usable capacity is limited by the mirror layout. Decide which OS to initialize before storing data and confirm the chosen drive set; QNAP says changing the system later requires removing drives. Read its QTS RAID reference and QuTS hero guide alongside the model selector.

2.5GbE is the built-in single-port ceiling

The current selector and model guide list two built-in 2.5GbE RJ45 ports. That makes one port sufficient for a 2.5-Gbps link-rating threshold, but it does not make a single client path a guaranteed 5 Gbps. QNAP discusses trunking multiple connections, whose useful rate depends on the network configuration and traffic; optional 5/10GbE adapters are additional cards, not installed base ports. QNAP’s product page also publishes lab figures for a specified 16-SSD RAID 5 setup using QTS 4.4.2 and an added 10GbE card. Those are manufacturer test conditions, not an independent benchmark or a prediction for this NAS configured with RAID 1, different drives, clients or network hardware.

For a 2.5GbE client path, check the switch port, cable, peer NIC, protocol, storage pool and workload end to end. For faster Ethernet, verify the adapter’s current compatibility, PCIe placement and any card conflicts before buying; QNAP lists two PCIe Gen3 x4 slots, but that alone does not confirm every adapter combination or performance result.

Memory, rack space and redundant power need a second look

The reviewed profile starts at 16 GB DDR4 UDIMM. A material source conflict affects upgrades: QNAP’s current exact hardware selector gives a 64 GB maximum using two 32 GB modules, while the 2020 guide lists 32 GB maximum for the exact 16G order profile. The shared starting total is not evidence that either upgrade ceiling is safe for every hardware revision. Confirm current supported module part numbers and the delivered unit revision before budgeting for memory.

This is a full-depth 3U rack chassis, not a compact desk NAS. QNAP’s current selector gives body dimensions of 5.17 × 17.01 × 14.6 inches and a 29.83-pound net weight; the guide’s figures differ slightly and do not define the complete rack envelope. The selector lists two 550 W redundant supplies and three 80 mm fans. A supply’s rating is not typical wall draw or a guarantee against a shared circuit failure. QNAP’s product page points to RAIL-S01, whereas the guide lists RAIL-B02 and says the rails are not included. Confirm the correct current kit, cabinet depth, post spacing, ventilation, cable clearance and loaded-weight limits with QNAP before installation. The image shows the family chassis only; it does not establish installed drives, memory modules, rail kit or seller contents.

Who should shortlist it—and what to verify

This profile is worth shortlisting when sixteen native SATA positions, a rack installation and redundant power are more important than a compact footprint. Its dual 2.5GbE ports may be enough when the rest of the wired path is designed for that link class. It is a poor fit if the plan assumes included drives, a factory-configured mirror, 10GbE already installed, verified 2.5-inch HDD compatibility, a 64 GB upgrade without checking the manual conflict, or rails that are certain to fit a particular cabinet.

• Match the exact TS-1673AU-RP-16G-US suffix and ask for the seller’s written bill of materials; the standard guide package does not list data drives or rails.
• Confirm every drive model and firmware against QNAP’s current compatibility information. Treat the 2.5-inch HDD wording as unresolved until QNAP confirms it for the delivered revision.
• Choose QTS or QuTS hero, initialize the pool yourself, and keep an independent tested backup.
• Resolve the 32-versus-64 GB memory ceiling and RAIL-S01-versus-RAIL-B02 discrepancy before purchasing upgrades or installation hardware.
• For networking, verify the complete switch-to-client path and any required adapter rather than extrapolating from manufacturer lab figures.

The exact U.S. Store identity lists a three-year standard warranty, but written terms, seller eligibility and coverage for the delivered SKU should be checked directly. No price, stock, delivery estimate, independent performance result or seller-added bundle is asserted here.